06 F-350 Diesel Remote Start issues

I have recently had Circuit City install a Python 871XP Alarm / Remote start in my new truck. The installer told me he couldn't get the tach wire to work so he completely disabled the monitoring functions. He said the downside is if the truck doesn't start when is supposed to it will think it is running and not attempt a restart. I read (on this forum) that the viper alarms don't like the ford tach signals. I read through the manuals and it also talks about voltage sensing.....any idea's why they wouldn't go with that???? Seems like some monitoring would be better than none. I did read that the newer ford diesels have a built in anti-grind system....so it doesn't seem like a big issue The second question is I get a TBC (trailer brake controller) fault on my dash when remote started. The installer explained that the built in brake controller senses something hooked to the brake line(part of the autostart which disengages the autostart system when the brakes are applied)...but it is not a trailer hookup so it is giving a fault. Have any installers done autostarts on the Newer superduty's that have the built in brake controller....is there a better way to hook the wire so it doesn't get a TBC fault. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide. This forum is amazing with the amount of information that is available. James

i just installed an ultra start on my brother's 05, we havent had any problems with it. that excuse for the trailer fault doesnt make sense, unless your foot is on the brake, the starter shouldnt be feeding anything to the brakes, and that shouldnt matter anyway, it is just supplying +12v, as if the brake switch supplied it. as for the tach, i have only installed ultra starts on the super duty's and have had no problems getting the signal. the tach wire is a blunt cut wire in a bundle of 4 or 5 under the dash, make sure he used the correct wire, light green with a white tracer

Don't know what 2005 F-250 Diesel you are talking about, but the 5 wire Bundle has now been reduced to 4 wires with another set of about 6 22 guage wires behind the Fuse / Relay center.  None had a Tach wire, & this was 3  2005 F-250 Diesel's without Factory Keyless...........MO

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TBC fault only occurs when the wait to start is set too long. no need for more than 10 seconds on that truck.Shaughn Murley

Install Manager, Dealer Services

Visions Electronics

Red Deer, Alberta

I have used the GREEN / WHITE wire in the loose bundle of wires behind the fuse/relay center with Ultrastart remote starts on a bunch of 05 Superduty trucks. It still works fine with those units. I haven't had a chance to use a DEI piece on one yet. I have read in numerous places that wire no longer works reliably with DEI units, and a couple months ago I had a former coworker call me about a 2005 Superduty not staying running with a DEI piece set to tach sense. Most people have said to set it to a 2 second (or longer) crank time and to turn engine checking off. The truck having built in anti-grind will prevent it from overcranking. .

3 - F-250 Super Duty's with 8 / 05 Build.All 3 had 4 wires ( cut off ends ) .... & approx. 6 thin wires ( shrink tubing ends ) wraped with White Tape behind Fuse / Relay.  I have 3 more to do for the same company & will check those also.  The thin Green / White wire puts out less than 1 volt AC until you get above 3500RPM.  MO

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Did a Valet 561T on an 06 Super Duty. Would not always start with the GREEN / WHITE CTO tach wire found inside. Had to set on voltage and turn up the crank time relying on the factory anti-grind (I hate doing tachless!). Worked every time and hasn't been back.

I think I am getting this now. I tested the factory anti grind feature....and it works great....I started my truck with the key and left it in the crank position for several seconds after the truck started with no grinding. The shop set the crank time to 1.3 seconds....which is working....But I will probably have that increased to 3 seconds. The last post mentioned not using the tach wire....but hooking up voltage sensing....Am I better off leaving that off since it has the built in anti-grind feature. Am I correct in thinking the only reason you monitor the tach or voltage is to stop cranking the engine and verifies the engine started....if it didn't start I am guessing it would wait a few seconds and re-crank the engine. If this is correct then upping the crank time should pretty much always start the vehicle. As far as the TBC fault....I am not sure decreasing the wait to start time to 10 seconds would affect that. It is currently set at 30 seconds....I may try decreasing that number...but I think when we get some cold weather the glow plugs may take 20 to 30 seconds to heat up. I live in Reno nevada...and we will get some temps down in the low teens or below. If the auto start is hooked to the brake circuit....I would assume it is waiting for a voltage signal when the brakes are applied which tells the auto start to turn off. I don't know why the computer would sense this connection...but I don't know. Thanks everybody....I am feeling pretty good about the whole install now...I originally thought they didn't really know what they were doing...but I think they did a good job now that everyone has explained these issues and it is making sense.

Definite tach issues with that truck and aftermarket remote starters. For some reason, that truck/engine/alternator/battery/combination-----it doesn't increase the voltage enough at idle to satisfy the remote starter, so voltage sense won't be reliable. I install Audiovox product, and we ran into the same problems. The newer 4-button product (RS/locks/trunk/panic) has been updated and works with Ford Diesels-----the 3-button (RS/locks) does not. I have seen discussions of this on DEI's website, and most everyone there agrees on the same solution your installer found----turn engine checking off, and set crank time for 2.0 seconds. As far as that warning lamp about the electric brake, they're just making excuses----something isn't right, and it has nothing to do with the brake wire. Either one of the ignition wires has not been powered up with the remote start, or the wait-to-start is too long, as extreme1 says.

I have seen some Installers only Power up 2 wires for Remote Start, Ignoring the Glow Plug wire......which I think needs to be Powered up alsoMO

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